First Report of Human Bocavirus Genotypes 1-3 in Argentine Wastewater and Insights into Community Circulation

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) represents a valuable tool for assessing viral circulation at the community level. Human bocavirus (HBoV), a member of the Parvoviridae family with four genotypes (HBoV1-4), has been detected in respiratory and enteric samples, although its environmental epidemiology remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to investigate the presence and diversity of HBoV in wastewater samples from Córdoba, Argentina, during 2020-2021. A total of 84 raw sewage samples collected at the city's wastewater treatment plant were analyzed by nested PCR and sequencing of the VP1/VP2 and NP1 regions. HBoV DNA was detected in 44% of samples, with higher circulation in 2020 (69.7%) compared to 2021 (27.4%), and a seasonal trend peaking in winter and spring. Phylogenetic analyses revealed 15 sequences clustering with HBoV2 and 11 with HBoV3, while three HBoV1-positive samples were confirmed by NP1 sequencing. To our knowledge, this is the first report of HBoV detection in environmental samples from Argentina, documenting the co-circulation of three genotypes (HBoV1-3) in a single urban setting. These findings underscore the usefulness of WBE for monitoring bocavirus diversity and circulation in the community.